We used the Crest brand whitening strips from Costco - which seemed like the best value. I polled my dental hygienist before I bought anything, and she said that people liked their product. She was trying to sell me the package from the dentist but it was about $400! The Costco price was good - something like half price compared to the drugstore. Hubby didn't follow through with the whole series, but I did - they were a little weird at first but perfectly do-able, and the results were very good! I am a tea drinker, so it was nice to freshen up the smile...I thought it was certainly worth the $35 or so we paid at the time.

I think the price has gone up a little, and the kit has been reconfigured and now has toothpaste on the side, too, but it is still a good value. Hubby loves the toothpaste.

I would say, go for it! I was worried about sensitive teeth but I had no problems...

most large drug store chains sell 2 things;
- a make your own reusable bite plate set.
- carbamide or hydrogen peroxide paste.
this is how your Dentist does it, so using
both items as directed is a lot cheaper and
much more effective then any strip system.

Rembrandt brand is over priced and diluted,
best to find a stronger cheaper generic.

keep in mind that whitening strips expire quickly,
while peroxide paste can stay effective for years.

IMHO people who think whitening strips work,
must also be chewing fluoridated gum hoping
that will prevent cavities... it's all marketing
alleged convenience, not actual effectiveness.

You are right that teeth whitening has become a whole marketing category unto itself! Between kits, mixes, dentist offerings and toothpastes it can be overwhelming. I am glad I didn't try to go to the drugstore and choose among the zillions of brands that are now competing.

That said, I had good, visible, long-term results with the Crest kit from Costco, plus I felt the price was fair and they have a great money-back policy on most purchases. I saw a difference within three days. Overall, I felt it was very much worth the small investment I made. Consumer Reports magazine has done an article or two on this, as well - with rankings among the various products. As long as one does some research ahead of time, I think it is quite possible to find a decent product without overspending.

Granted, I can't compare it to a tray system such as you illustrate, nor have I gone to the dentist for the 'professional' version of the treatment (chemicals, lasers etc!) Have you tried the tray system? Is it messy? The strips were not. Having had years of orthodontic treatment as a kid to get my teeth straightened, the less time I have to spend with things in my mouth the better, so for me, trays would be out. The strips were not bulky or particularly annoying.

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